Lion Military Rank Badge Set

This lion military rank badge set was made in China in the 19th century for the wife of a first or second rank military official. It is made out of silk and metallic thread.

Rank badges were worn on surcoats to identify an individual’s governmental standing. The badges were made in two halves so they could be placed on either side of a font-opening coat. Wives and children wore the rank badge of their father or husband. Different animals represented different ranks, and the way the animal was position often indicates if the badge was made for a man or woman.

This set of badges would have been worn by the wife of an official of the first or second military rank. These badges would be worn on the front and back of a surcoat. The work is done with couched metallic thread of two tones and the turquoise silk thread is also couched. The right facing lion is perched on rocks above waves and against a sky with cloud bands, auspicious symbols, and a sun disc. It is lined with red silk.